News Stories

Arsenal manager now focused on top four finish rather than Premier League title

"Of course we also have to look in front of us but as well behind us."

Andy Bell

Posted 26 March

Arsene Wenger has written off the Gunners’ title hopes and now wants his team to qualify for the Champions League

It’s all going horribly wrong for Arsenal this season and they could be in danger of dropping out of the top four, with a 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea last weekend being followed up by a 2-2 draw with Swansea on Tuesday.

Collecting just a point from these games means that the Gunners are out of the title race and only sit six points clear of Everton having played a game more, with Arsene Wenger admitting that his team have to now revise their focus and concentrate on pipping the Merseyside team to a Champions League place.

A Mathieu Flamini own goal in the 90th minute saw Arsenal toss away two points following an abysmal showing at Stamford Bridge, with Wenger now claiming that thoughts of winning the title doesn’t occupy his mind.

“The title is not our biggest worry at the moment,” Wenger said. “We just have to try to be realistic and we have to come back in the next game. We have to look behind us. Of course we also have to look in front of us but as well behind us. Everton won [at Newcastle United] so we have, of course, to focus. It will be open until the end. We can still have surprises. Manchester City had a good result [at United] … they look a bit unstoppable and they are the favourites because they still have two games in hand.

“Them and Chelsea are the favourites for the title. We don’t have too much room to come back into it. We have to get some players back. It’s difficult to fight with half the team out.”

Indeed, Theo Walcott is out for the season, with quartet Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny, Jack Wilshere and Mesut Özil all missing for the visit of Manchester City on Saturday.